Author Description

126 Yiddish songs chosen as the biggest theater hits of 1933-1934 by book and record-store owner Itzik Zhelonek of Warsaw, Poland (his store was in the flea market across from the "used iron" store) or appearing in the "35 newest theater songs from Azazel and Sambatiyon" collection of 1929. Azazel and Sambatiyon were the swingingest night spots of Warsaw, serving up "kleynkunst" - miniature theater - monologues, spoofs, and of course delicious songs - from earnest and nostalgic to droll and cosmopolitan. It was music of the Jazz Age, but theater-goers also demanded some old favorites. I've spent three years finding and transcribing the melodies for these wonderful songs which have mostly been lost since the Holocaust expunged joy and frivolity from Yiddish culture. The book has tunes, chords, transliterations, translations, commentary, and sources. There are three companion cds: In Odess, Lebedik Yankel, and Nervez! available here at Amazon. For more information see yiddishemporium.com Contents of the book (asterisks indicate the melody is missing) A dudele A ganef iz a takef * A ganefs a trer A gute vokh fun der alter heym A kale bazingen A kidushin-ringele A mamenyu A misteek A pastukhl A puster kholem iz dos gantse lebn A sakh melokhes un veynik brokhes A shayle baym rebn A vig lid (S'loyfn, S'yogn Shvartse Volkn) A volakhl lomir zingen Af bri Al Chet di nayer Az der rebbe vil Bankrotn * Beygelekh (Bublitshki) Dem rebns shirayim * Der balegole Di firme Boymval Di galitsianer khasene Der lamdn Reb Sender (der alter) Der filosof Der Rebi Elimelech Der vaser-treger Di eybike mame Di Firme Boymval Di libe fun a heylike mame Di manikurzshistke * Di mashke Di meydlekh fun amol Di mezinke oysgegebn Di milkh-ku Di velt hot zikh ibergekert Di yidish troyke Dos fishele Dos fleshele (tshort vozmi) Dos ganevl Dos iz di libe * Dos kind ligt in vigl Dos talisl dus talesl Dos yidishe fidele Dos Yidishe lid Duet Roza Huki Gevald, vu nemt men koyln? Gey makh, es makht zikh